Compare towns
Benson vs Gorham vs Gray vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Benson | Gorham | Gray | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
18,300Highest |
8,429 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$85,250±$29k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.